In two previous meetings, Dulko had won just three games and never mounted a challenge to the taller, more powerful and younger Sharapova. But, on this day, on Centre Court, before a packed house just chomping at the bit to see an upset, Gisela delivered.

Sharapova seemed listless and at first lacked her usual signature grunt. Dulko smelled blood and brought passion to the contest. Before Maria blinked, she was down 2-5.

Since her return to competition, Sharapova’s serve has become a liability. She lacks sufficient velocity to compete on the high stage. Rarely topping 100 mph, the lean former number one had hoped to ride her experience and gutsy performances at Roland Garros well into the draw at Wimbledon.

Lacking in foot speed and at times appearing awkward, Maria was vulnerable to Dulko’s strategy of moving her across the court. Surprisingly, Gisela was able to move forward and literally tee off on Maria’s first and second serve. Sharapova, normally known for a power serve to match her forceful groundstrokes, has become a shadow of herself and was only able to generate two aces in more than two hours.

Sharapova was trailing 0-3 in the second set before she seemed to catch her breath and finally get her offensive game together. Only able to convert four of 11 break point opportunities, the Russian often found herself out of position and attempting off-balance, low percentage winners.

While Maria seemed out of shape and heavy afoot, Gisela seemed a bit awed by the possibility of knocking off the former Wimbledon Champion. Gisela is unaccustomed to Centre Court appearances and felt the pressure of the crowd pulling for her opponent to rally.

But, on this day, the sometimes erratic baseliner had 22 winners to offset her 23 unforced errors, most of which came in the second set. She won a total of 93 points, five more than Maria in the 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 upset. Gisela registered 5 double faults compared to Maria’s 9.

The two player’s resumes have few similarities. Currently ranked 45th on the tour, Gisela has racked up a mere 151 victories in her 8-year professional career. Maria has 274 wins in her 8 years, but has gone through extended periods of disability. Sharapova has amassed more than $12 million in earnings while Gisela has worked hard at singles and doubles to make $2 million.

After the second set loss, the Argentine gathered herself for one more push. She jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Maria ran off three straight games. At 4-4, Gisela made her last, two-game stand, breaking the Russian with relative ease.

Receiving serve and trailing at 4-5, 40-15, Maria showed her admirable mettle. She blistered a deep forehand winner to get to 30-40 then followed with an unusually deft drop shot that momentarily stunned the crowd and froze Dulko in her tracks.

At deuce, Dulko wowed the audience with a follow-up drop shot of her own to get her third match point. Sharapova fended off the third match point with a fierce backhand down the line that Dulko watched hit the line for an outright winner.

Again at deuce, Dulko served wide and Maria barely got her racket on the attempted return. Sharapova won the fourth match point when Dulko nervously hit a routine forehand long.

Maria finally had a break point when Dulko hit another forehand long. The crowd felt Gisela’s angst, but Maria failed to capitalize as she netted a backhand. At deuce, Maria positioned herself for a forehand drive, which was originally called in but was over-ruled. Facing a fifth match point, the former champ hit a backhand down the line but wide. The stunned crowd gasped before mounting a wild cheer for the upset winner. A nice win, for a nice tennis player. Way to go Gisela! Thank you ladies!

This week, we think Andy is well positioned, well composed and ready for a serious run at Juan Martin del Porto to make the semifinals. Then, we shall see. In the meantime, he is King Andy. That is our position and we are sticking to it.

Granted he gave French strongman, 22-year-old Jeremy Chardy, a careless third set, but King Andy had everything in hand. With 21 aces in the two-hour match (6-3, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3), he was in control and had Chardy out of his game from the outset. King Andy is in the mix and ready for a run. Watch out Juan Martin! Watch out Scotsman! Our King will be coming at you.

Fortunately our ladies are more highly regarded. They deserve it. Serena and Venus have the credentials, the experience, the composure and the drive to win Grand Slams. Five time Wimbledon Queen Venus is looking good, looking and acting like royalty. The queen is a good woman.

Tall, slender, fit and moving gracefully from side to side, observers will be hard pressed to find a more likely winner. In just 78 minutes the Queen put down a possible Swiss uprising with her neat 6-3, 6-2 victory over Stephanie Voeqele. It was the Queen’s 12th straight first round Wimbledon triumph.

Our Queen may be the bookmaker’s second choice, but she looks too regal not to get a play. We think there may well be two Williams family members in the finals, so take that!

The Princess

In today’s morning matches and way back there on Court 17, something very special was happening. A Princess was born. The new 17-year-old American Princess stepped onto the court and claimed her rightful place.

As a decided underdog to pretty, fair-haired 29-year-old 26th seed, Austrian Sybille Bammer, little Melanie Oudin, who was sitting in her high school history class in Marietta Georgia three weeks ago, played to win. She played with the determination that led her to four successive junior championships last year, losing just three sets along the way. And, she played unlike a 5 foot 5 inch high school senior challenging a proven player who reached the quarters in the US Open last year and who reached the second round at Roland Garros and who has more than 100 career wins.

Melanie Oudin played like a winner. She played like her idol, Justine Henin, and she played with the quiet determination of our greatest queen, Queen Chrissy. Thank you Melanie! We knew you could do it. We have never doubted you.

At 5 foot 5 inches, players may not expect what Melanie will show them. She makes unlikely retrieves, prolongs points and smashes winning forehand drives with a slight irreverence.

What observers like about Melanie is that the 17-year-old blonde fireplug has a plan. She understands her serve will not overpower the pros so she makes no mistakes. She rarely double faults and she pressures opposing servers by making them work extra hard. If you are going to beat Melanie, bring your running shoes, because you will be on the court for a bit.

By the way, persons approaching our new Princess should pronounce her name oo-dan. As in oo-la-la! She’s a handful, our little princess. She’ll bubble you to death. Exuberant, joyful, bouncy, pretty, blonde and so very young. Off the court, Melanie is all joy. On the court, watch out. The Princess is all business.

When Melanie chose tennis, she chose it with purpose. The petite Georgian decided that if she would play, she would be good at it. That is good, as in successful, not as in also-ran.

She has been home schooled since the seventh grade. She intends to practice medicine, a noble pursuit and she intends to win big tennis matches. On June 23rd, little Melanie Oudin, official Princess of American tennis, won our hearts and the biggest match of her career. Way to go Melanie!

Now, Melanie, what will you do for us next? Will you rest on your laurels? Or, Princess, will you take it to the next level and outrun, outhustle and outgun 21-year old Muscovite, Yarolslava Shedova, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Monica Nicolescu?

Once again, you will be the shortest player on the court. You will be the youngest player on the court. You will be an underdog, but you know what? You can do it! That’s is what American Princesses do. They win unexpected matches and move on to the third round. Then, we shall see. Okay Princess? See you in two days. Nice one, baby. Nice one! You make us proud!

As circumstances would have it, the 2009 tournament may be the Brits best chance to raise the trophy in many a year. The Empire’s hopes rest solely and squarely on their best player, the enigmatic third ranked Scotsman, Andy Murray. Fresh from his clean win at Queens, Murray appears at the top of his game. Once again, there is a wave of optimism in the English air. That may not be good news for the three seed, who has won more than $2 million this year and sports a spectacular 40-6 won-lost record.

Murray has developed the reputation of a player who cannot cut the mustard when in the limelight. And, for the next two weeks, or as long as he is in play, that is squarely where the 22-year old will be.

Alan Jones, Jo Durie’s former coach, summed up Murray’s dilemma; “Winning a Grand Slam is a challenge that most players never overcome. It also does not help that he is playing at home where, as Tim Henman can testify, the pressure and scrutiny is incredibly intense. But, what is for sure is that Andy has the talent to succeed, particularly on grass. It is obvious that he is a far better physical specimen now than he was three years ago and as a result, is able to complete the five sets that are often required to win matches at the highest level. He has top be one of the fastest 6 ft 3 inch players to have ever played the game. But, to be successful at Wimbledon, Andy must overcome the safety-first approach that he adopted in matches that he lost at the Australian and French Opens. He needs to be braver.”

Jones seems to have pegged Murray to a tee. The lanky Scotsman now features a blistering serve, devastating ground strokes and blazing foot speed. What is most improved in his game is that the Scot has learned to hit winners from unlikely, off-balanced positions that seem to occur regularly on Wimbledon’s grass.

However, based on his performance at Queen’s, Murray seems most comfortable on grass. With Nadal’s withdrawal, Murray’s top half of the draw appears a bit diminished. He opens against American Robert Kendrick, who failed to win a game in their last encounter.

If form holds, Murray would meet Marat Saffin, a semifinalist last year in the 4th round and e8 seed Gilles Simon in the quarters. A likely semifinal match would be against either Juan Martin del Porto or American Andy Roddick. Never has a Brit had a smoother path to the finals.

And, if he gets there, Murray has reason to play with confidence. He has won his last four encounters with Federer and holds a 6-2 record against the 14-time Grand Slam winner, who was the bookmakers’ choice prior to Nadal’s departure.

As the media will remind anyone who will listen, Federer knows how to compete and how to win Grand Slams. These two-week pilgrimages are his cause. As a five-time Wimbledon champion and a man determined to collect his record setting 15th Grand Slam, there can be no doubt that the Swiss star will not go away easily.

Murray has had a year most players would consider a career. British tennis fans do not see it that way. They crave the Wimbledon championship. Murray began the year with big plans. Following his appearance ion the finals at the U.S. Open, there was cause for optimism.

His 2009 Grand Slam events have not gone as planned. Seed third in Melbourne and Paris, Murray got the boot in the fourth round in Australia and in the quarters at Roland Garros. As Jones observed, Murray seems to believes that his talent alone can win matches. In Grand Slams, Murray has played too close to the vest. To win at Wimbledon not only must he be braver, he must be the countless media attention aside.

Day One begins on Monday, June 22nd. Many of the games big stars will be on court. Federer (Yen-Hsun Lu), Djokovic (Julien Benneteau), Soderling (Muller), Verdasco (Ward) will all be off early. On the Ladies’s side, Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva will also be on the grass. This one is looking special, don’t miss a thing!

Roger Federer’s tears were tears of accomplishment. The release of emotion followed the culmination of a dream. Roger Federer may no longer be the best tennis player on the planet, but he is always the man to beat. The 27-year old phenom has reached the semifinal in the last 22 consecutive Grand Slam events. Think about that!

That is 22 events against the greatest tennis players alive. He has played through whispers, injuries, good luck and bad. He has been the model of consistency. No active player can equal that feat.

Even the skillful Nadal failed to make the semis in Paris.

Roger Federer may not be the player he once was. On occasion, he loses a set to a lesser player. He is sometimes tested in early rounds. It is no longer a walk to the quarter-finals for the lean right-hander. The young players get better each year. A win over the world’s number two is a win you can hang your hat upon. In the world of young, aspiring tennis talents, Roger Fededer is perceived to be beatable. It’s laughable really!

Now that he has equalled Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slams, he seeks number 15. He would love to win Wimbledon where Rafa Nadal ended his run of five straight in 2008. Many experts feel that match, the longest finals ever played, was the greatest tennis match ever played.

What is true is that in today’s Grand Slam events, every draw is filled with players who can compete, who can win any given match. That is just one more thing that makes Federer’s resume and 22 straight semi-final appearances more remarkable.

Federer’s 2009 numbers are solid. He is 33-6 and has earned $3.4 million. His career mark is 650-155 and his career earnings exceed $48 million. Pretty lofty numbers for a guy the young studs think they can beat.

In the past four years, Federer and Nadal have shared all but two of the Grand Slam titles. At every event, Djokovic, Murray, Roddick, Verdasco and others like Soderling are lingering in the wings.

There is no more fitting place than Wimbledon for Roger to set the new record for most Grand Slam Championships. Grass is suited for the sleek Federer. He moves quickly to the ball, has a vast array of shots and the perhaps the most effective forehand in the game.

While there have been many champions with ability, there is only one Roger Federer. In every match, the champion brings the same demeanor, the same attributes. This is what you can expect when you watch the greatest player of all time.

• Composure – Good line calls, bad line calls, friendly crowds, not-so-friendly crowds, Roger never plays outside himself. That is a luxury of being the greatest. Play within yourself and you are the best.
• Unrelenting – Federer does not beat himself. He may not get as many aces as in his earlier days, but he rarely faults. The Champion understands the court, understands the angles and is patient to set himself up.
• Precise – He prepares precisely, he trains meticulously and he understands his opponents strengths and weaknesses. He arrives at the court with a plan and executes it efficiently.
• Consistent – Players who reach the semis 22 times consecutively is probably the most consistent player to ever pick up a racket.
• Presence – Somehow Federer takes control of the match, the crowd, the umpire, the linespeople and even the ballboys. To watch him play is to watch tennis royalty. The Champion never demeans the game.
• Intensity – The bigger the match, the more intense Federer is. He rises to the occasion as well as anyone who has ever played. His performance is never flat.

The great thing about Roger Federer is that he plays the game. He does not rely on gamesmanship or distraction. He is a new-age player with a traditional feel for the game. When the great one is done, we may never see another player do so much for their sport.

Is Rafa In?

With 13 days to go before the first serve at the Wimbledon Championships to determine the best grass court player in the world, the world’s best player has announced that he is a questionable entrant. Spain’s Rafael Nadal shocked the tennis world by declaring that his playing status will be determined by the results of an upcoming visit to his team of physicians who will be examining his troubled knees.

Nadal is in Barcelona and undergoing a complete physical. After examinations on Monday and Tuesday, the top ranked player is expected to make an announcement on Wednesday.

Rafa withdrew from the popular Wimbledon tune-up at the Queen’s Club in London. Nadal’s 31 match win streak at Roland Garros was ended by Sweden’s Robin Soderling in the fourth round of last week’s French Open. Nadal did not directly attribute his loss to his aching knees.

“I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees – that’s no secret – that did not allow me to compete always at 100%. I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then.”

Nadal defeated 14-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer in the longest championship ever played at last year’s Wimbledon finals. Fans have been anxiously awaiting a return match with all the hype and excitement afforded to an Ali-Frazer heavyweight prizefight.

Federer responded to Nadal’s condition; “I was surprised to see him pull out of Queen’s, and now the debate that he might pull out of Wimbledon is quite frightening. I don’t like to see it, because you want the best to be playing in the biggest events.”

The 2009 French Open Champion, who went five sets with Nadal in the Melbourne finals continued; “It seems like it’s not 100 percent serious, his knee injury. I only wish him the best and I hope it’s not true that he will miss Wimbledon. I think it’s a lot of speculation at the moment. He wasn’t taping his knees here in Paris. He seemed fine from what I saw. I’ve played him so many times, I can tell when he’s in pain and when he’s not.”

In addition to their fierce rivalry on the court, Nadal and Federer are known to try to get into each other’s minds. There is some speculation that Rafa is waging a media campaign to combat his recent clay court defeats at the hands of Roger in Paris and in Madrid.

On Monday, Nadal announced that he would travel to London on Tuesday in hopes of defending his Wimbledon title. The Spaniard reported that he had been playing in pain for months. Nadal has committed to physical therapy in anticipation of Wimbledon.

“I am going to give my 200 percent to be ready for the most important tournament in the world. I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100 percent ready to play. I’ve been playing with pain on my knees for some months now and I simply can’t go on like this. The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well.”

The Spanish Tennis Federation physician, Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, reported that Nadal had tendonitis inn his knees. “His treatment will involve oral anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy, as well as muscular exercises for both quadriceps.”

The defending champion is slated to be the top seed again this year. He has held the number one ranking since August of last year. His absence would install Federer as the favorite to win his record 15th Grand Slam.

Ana – What’s Up?

The former top ranked female player and current number 13 ranked women’s player, Ana Ivanovic needs a coach and a new serve. In February, the struggling dark-haired, dark-eyed photogenic dream-come-true hired former Martina Navratilova coach, Craig Kardon, to help rebuild her game and fix her mysterious ball-toss and serving woes.

On Monday Ivanovic politely released Kardon. Ana had hired Kardon to replace her long-time coach Sven Groeneveld after her disappointment in Australia. Ivanovic has not lived up to her potential since her win in Paris last year. Her ineffective serve has her on the defensive most of the time.

In 2008, Ivanovic held the number one ranking for nine weeks. Her service woes erupted suddenly. For the time being, Ana intends to use temporary coaches fro Eastbourne and at Wimbledon.

Fans wonder if perhaps her new beaux, Spanish heartthrob Fernando Verdasco, might pitch in and give the svelte beauty a hand. If not, there certainly would be plenty of volunteers!